Colorado Buffaloes women’s basketball’s all-time leader in three-pointers made, Frida Formann, returned to the court during the team’s win against the Southern Jaguars on Sunday.
After missing the first four games of the season, Formann didn’t look like she had missed a beat, playing 25 minutes (tied for the most) and tallying nine points on 2-for-4 shooting, while collecting four rebounds and four assists. Formann explained how it felt seeing her first points of the season go down early into the game.
“As fun as it has been to watch my team from the sideline, this is what I want to do and I’m really pumped to be back. I was a little bit nervous coming into it,” Formann said. “But I think my team really trusts me and I’m a fifth-year senior and I can’t really be unsure of myself. So whenever that ball hits my hand, it's my job to shoot it.”
Formann’s specialty, the trey ball, was on display throughout the game. Three of her four shots were threes, and both of her made field goals came from beyond the arc. Formann described how the ball felt coming off her hand and shared what was most challenging about returning after missing the start of the season.
“Shooting has been one of the only things I’ve been allowed to do so that's been the easiest, the catch-and-shoot three. The hardest part was defense full court and the reaction stuff that takes a little harder to get used to again,” Formann said.
Formann wasn’t just shooting: she was aggressive, drove into the paint, got to the line twice and sank three of her four free throws. Formann also shared that contact when driving the paint didn’t affect her.
“It’s fine, I went into the paint well knowing there’s going to be some contact,” Formann said.
The Buffaloes’ 65-45 win was their largest margin of victory this season, and the offense seemed to click when Formann was on the floor. Head coach JR Payne discussed the offensive struggles in their first four games and how Formann contributed to improving them against the Jaguars.
“We’ve been talking about the last couple of weeks: our pace is not good enough, we’re not cutting hard enough, we’re not finishing our cuts, the ball is not moving fast enough within the half court. So, Frida [Formann], Kindyll [Wetta], Sara [-Rose Smith], are the only three that actually have played at the pace we want to play at,” Payne said. “To have someone [Formann] that really knows what it's supposed to feel like in terms of pace so I agree with that [the offense was moving faster].”
The Buffaloes and Formann face the Utah State Aggies on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT at the CU Events Center (ESPN+).
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